the Resonants

delighting Canberra for over 20 years!

The Resonants received a sheaf of compositions from Resos, former-Resos and other Canberra musicians. Helen and the committee are now considering all the submissions and selecting those suitable for our September program. We'll be announcing the selection shortly so stay tuned!

The Resonants are performing a ‘home grown’ concert on Saturday 3 September 2016 in the Great Hall, University House at the Australian National University.

This ‘home grown’ concert will present compositions from local Canberra composers, as well as current and former Resonants singers.

As a former-Reso or friend of The Resonants, you are invited to submit a composition for the choir to sing at this concert in September.

Your composition can be a finished work, published or unpublished, or a work in progress that can be considered by Helen Swan, Music Director, and which must then be completed by the end of May 2016. Works of any choral style will be considered but should preferably be for minimum three voice parts, a cappella or with minimal instrumental accompaniment. They must not infringe copyright for either music or text, and there must be no impediment to The Resonants performing the piece in September. Manuscripts must be legibly scored and presented either by hand or in notation software, and can be submitted either as PDF file or hardcopy for consideration.

Please include a brief description of your piece to help Helen to understand and interpret your music. These notes may be used later in program notes.
Please send your compositions together with your contact details to Helen or 21 Prescott St Farrer ACT 2607 by 30 April 2016. Helen will consider all submissions in the context of the concert program, and final selections will be made by Helen and the committee. You will be notified in early May about whether or not your piece has been selected for performance and can then negotiate supply of copies for commencement of rehearsals in late May.

Don’t be daunted! This is a rare opportunity for amateur/emerging composers (or perhaps established composers who don’t have a choir on tap) to have their work performed, so we’d love to hear from you. We look forward to performing an exciting program of never-before-heard locally-composed works in September!

The audio track of Sally Greenaway's lovely piece 'Resonance', composed for our 25th anniversary is now online at Sally's SoundCloud page. Thanks to ArtSound FM for recording the premiere performance at our celebratory concert in November 2015.

Our 25th anniversary celebration concert went ahead yesterday afternoon with great aplomb. I'll come back to the event itself in a subsequent post but first wanted to thank a great number of people for their help and support, because these events don't just happen.

Firstly, our appreciative audience of friends, family, former members and music lovers without whom, of course, there would be little purpose in singing. Thanks also to those former members who joined us on stage to sing – it was joyous to have such a big sound!

Secondly, our dedicated musical director and founder, Helen Swan for her 25 years of vision, drive, voice tuition and challenging repertoire. Long may she continue!

Thirdly, Philip Piggin, Dianne Libke and the team at the Belconnen Arts Centre who were all so responsive and helpful in hosting our event. It is a superb musical venue in a picturesque location. We'll be back at the BAC!

Fourthly, composer Sally Greenaway for her creative vision and talent in writing such an exquisite piece of music for us in 'Resonance'. Her skill in setting my words to music left many an audience member (and singer too!) with a tear in the eye and goosebumps on the skin.

Fifthly, ArtSound FM for recording the music. We hope to hear it on the radio sometime soon and also to make some of it available on our website. Janet Wilson for her great article about us in the Canberra Times. Peter Hislop for his lovely photography which will be uploaded to our website shortly. Balloon Brilliance for the festive decorations. AddColour Digital and OfficeWorks for printed materials. Flower Joy at Woden Plaza for the stunning native arrangements.

Fifthly, all the people who worked tirelessy behind the scenes for months in advance and on the day to make the event such a success: committee president Allison who had the added burden of moving house just weeks before the concert; Siwan, Tom and Richard for the catering; Eric for wrangling the finances and Dimity for managing ticket sales; Lin for his ever-faithful roady duties; Joey and Bruce for writing and proofreading the program; Phillip for the magnificent cake; Liz for organising ArtSound to record the music.

Finally, all the choir members who helped with setting up, serving food and drink, bumping out afterwards, and all the other little tasks, advice, opinions and inputs along the way, and, of course, your voices! It is the pleasure of singing together that keeps us all coming back each week.

I did a bit too (driving the commissioning of 'Resonance', the graphic design work as usual) for which I was very kindly acknowledged at the concert.

I heard many audience members comment on what a superb concert it was and how much they enjoyed the trip down memory lane. See you all again next year!

On Saturday 14 November 2015, The Resonants will be celebrating their 25th anniversary with a reunion concert at the Belconnen Arts Centre. Directed by Helen Swan for the entire 25 years, the concert will comprise a selection of new repertoire and old favourites, premiering ‘Resonance’ composed by young Canberra composer Sally Greenaway with lyrics by long-time Resonants singer Kirsten Duncan, commissioned by The Resonants to commemorate the event. See the poster.

Former members are invited to sing selected pieces with current members, rehearsing in the afternoon before the concert. Download the registration form with full details.